Do you want to listen to the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, but you're not sure where to start? Here is a suggested playlist to get you started.
Facts about Families of Musical Instruments
When people talk about a musical instrument belonging to a 'family" of instruments, what do they mean? And which instruments belong in those different families? Read on for the answers to these questions.
2022 in Music Book Reviews
A round up of all the music books I read and reviewed in 2022.
Music Book Review: Where Are All The Instruments?: West Africa
The Why Squad are a group of children who love their music classes, and finding out as much as they can about music. In this book written by Nathan Holder and illustrated by Charity Russell they learn about instruments from different countries in West Africa. Their exploration of these instruments takes them on an adventure.
Facts About The French Horn
What do you know about the most mellow of the brass instruments? Find out more about the French Horn in this post.
12 Nursery Rhymes To Sing With Your Baby
Want to sing something, anything, with your baby? Why not start with one of these 12 nursery rhymes?
Why Sing To Your Baby?
Why you should sing to your baby, and often. How you and your baby will benefit from singing together - your baby might even join in!
Music with Mr Gray
Meet Mr Gray, the primary music teacher behind the fantastic YouTube channel Music with Mr Gray.
September has arrived, here’s to the next 12 months of Get Kids Into Music.
Hello to you all, both long term readers of this blog and those of you who have started reading more recently. It is lovely to have you here. Photo by Taryn Elliott on Pexels.com It is Monday September 5th as I write this blog posting my children have gone back to school and I am... Continue Reading →
Bluey Season 3 on Disney +
Bluey Season 3 starts on Disney+ on 10 August. It’s full of brilliant music, as well as being a generally great cartoon for children. Read more about why Bluey is the perfect cartoon for introducing your children to Classical music, and helping them develop a love of music.
MAC Makes Music: Autumn Events at Midland Arts Centre
A round up of the Autumn programme of inclusive music making opportunities for children and young people at MAC in Birmingham, UK.
Facts about the Trumpet
What do you know about the trumpet? How do you play the trumpet? What is the history of the trumpet? The answer to these questions and more can be found here.
MAC Makes Music: Music Events for Families Over the Summer
What on earth do you do with your children to fill the time in the summer holidays? Well if you live near Birmingham City Centre like me, why not check out these events over at #MAC #summermusic #summerholidays #summermusicevents #musicforkids #makeyourownmusic
Saxophone
What is a saxophone? Who invented it and why is it a surprise he made it to adulthood at all? How do you play saxophone? These and more questions are answered in this post.
Music Book Review: When Step met Skip by Vicky Weber
This Music Book Review is a lovely book When Step Met Skip by Vicky Weber, illustrated by Geneviève Viel-Taschereau. Written by an Early Years music teacher, the book introduces simple music theory concepts in a fun and engaging way for young readers.
Can You Buy Sheet Music From The National Book Chains?
Is it worth going into one of the National Chain book shops if you are looking to buy sheet music? I went into 2 in Birmingham, UK and this is what I found.
Where to Buy Sheet Music Online?
So your child is learning a musical instrument? Where would you go to to buy the sheet music they need? Starting with online retailers I talk about where to go to buy sheet music from.
Composition Game to Play with your Children
Musical games to play at home. A fun way to get your children to have a go at composition, and to make their own music. Great for homeschool music composition class.
Music Book Review: Lift-the-flap Questions and Answers about Music
This month’s Music Book Review looks at Usborne Books’ Lift-the-flap Questions and Answers about Music. This is a good book for younger readers to learn more about music. It is a lift-the-flap book which will engage even younger readers.
What do children study creative arts for?
Why do we teach children creative arts? If children are not going to be professional artists or musicians etc is it worth teaching them these subjects? My answer is a resounding yes, for the reasons outlined in this post.
Facts about the Clarinet
Fun facts about instruments of the orchestra - this time a member of the woodwind family, the clarinet. How much do you know about this musical instrument?
Facts About the Oboe
This month’s featured instrument of the orchestra is a member of the woodwind family: the oboe.
Hello Bird, Hello Fish! Review of new Work In Progress Opera from B’Opera
A review of the new work in progress opera Hello Bird, Hello Fish by Birmingham based children’s opera company B’Opera.
Interview with Zoë Challenor, B’Opera
In this post I interview Zoe Challinor, one of the founders of an opera company for under 5s and their families based in Birmingham, UK.
Music Book Review: Rhythm Rescue by Vicky Weber
Tala is a little girl who lives in Music Metropolis and who has special powers through the power of music. Read my review of the book Rhythm Rescue by Vicky Weber and illustrated by Geneviève Viel-Taschereau.
Music Book Review – The Story Orchestra, Four Seasons In One Day by Jessica Courtney-Tickle
A review of Four Seasons In One Day, one of The Story Orchestra series of books that bring famous musical words to life for young children.
Facts about the flute
How much do you know about the flute? Some interesting facts about my favourite wind instrument (the one I play myself).
Music for Winter – Playlists
A couple of winter themed music playlists to listen to with your children. Grab an instrument and play or sing along, dance around, grab pens and paper and make art inspired by the music you hear. Whatever you want to do, I hope you enjoy this playlist at home, or in your music homeschool.
Living In A Musical House
What are the consequences of children being encouraged to enjoy music? Well yours will never be a quiet home if that is the case. Actually, it is quite fun!
Music Book Review: Once Upon a Tune Stories from the Orchestra
Ever wonder what inspired some of the most famous pieces of music? Well in this wonderful book, Once Upon A Tune: Stories From The Orchestra by James Mayhew, the stories behind many brilliant pieces of music, including The Sorcerer's Apprentice, The Flight of the Bumblebee and The William Tell Overture, are told.